Friday, June 10, 2011

Today, we announced the findings of a months-long investigation into allegations of improper screening of baggage at Honolulu International Airport (HNL). The investigation revealed that a portion of checked

baggage presented to one shift of employees at one location, affecting a limited number of flights per day, were purposefully improperly screened.

The result? Today, we delivered over thirty proposed letters of removal to employees implicated in the investigation (including two senior managers). As Administrator Pistole said, "We hold our workforce to the

highest ethical standards and will not tolerate employees who in any way compromise the security of the traveling public."

Countless TSA employees work hard every day to protect travelers at airports nationwide. These employees know that our success depends on their hard work, professionalism and integrity. We have a serious job

to do, and anyone who is not doing that job will be held accountable.

Our country, our agency and the flying public deserve no less.

Nico Melendez

TSA Blog Team

If you’d like to comment on an unrelated topic you can do so in our Off Topic Comments post. You can also view our blog post archives or search our blog to find a related topic to comment in. If you have a travel related issue or question that needs an immediate answer, you can contact a Customer Support Manager at the airport you traveled, or will be traveling through by using Talk to TSA.

JustSayin said... You mean so we can go back to private security, like...before 9/11...when the worst terrorist attack happened on US soil???

Get over 9/11 already. It was a one time event that will never happen again. It was only possible because no one expected it. Now that it's occurred, the crew and passengers on a plane will never again cooperate with hijackers. The cockpit doors are also now kept locked.

There will be terrorist attacks in the future, but they will be something different that we aren't checking for. The TSA is totally reactionary - they are always fighting the last war. You can't win that way.

@JustSayin': Admit it. 9/11 is being used as a scapegoat for people that had nothing to do with it actually happening.

Airline crew cooperation - policy at the time - was why 9/11 happened. Now that we have hardened cockpit doors, a crew that won't comply, and pax willing to risk their lives to take down an attacker, another 9/11 isn't going to happen.

Tell us why security was blamed for 9/11 happening. No one has ever explained what they did wrong, considering they were complying with the rules they were given at that time. No one has shown that TSA would have done any better if they were operating under the same set of rules. Additionally, with the repeated failures we constantly see, there's no guarantee that what TSA is doing today would prevent another 9/11.

And if these people were so bad, why were so many of them hired into TSA after 9/11?

9/11 didn't happen because of lax security. We'll have another incident due to TSA's ineptitude though.

[[before 9/11...when the worst terrorist attack happened on US soil???]]

Preach it, brother.

No, really, preach it.

Preaching doesn't require factual substance or a rational argument; it relies instead on the visceral and emotive pleadings before the easily manipulated.

TSA boosters don't like hearing reality: TSA hasn't stopped a single event. That cannot be rationally argued. They filter out fewer knives, guns and bombs than their civilians counterparts do - and did. Also not arguable.

One could argue that the theory behind TSA is sound. But if you do that, the next logical step is to examine the *implementation* of TSA, which relies on heavy-handed, arrogant, incompetent and reactive procedural nonsense in the place of anything which has - in the real world - been shown to create greater security.

After-action reports of TSA audits have been leaked to the popular press and none of them are complimentary: the vast majority of test guns and bombs get through. Even legitimate weapons being carried innocently get through the vast majority of the time - and you cannot argue against their innocence since they were not used for air piracy/sabotage.

Once again: *things* are not the danger; the people who possess them are - if they choose to be.

Yet TSA has bins full of shampoo and toothpaste to their credit. And you wish to prop this up as justification of their procedures? What kind of machiavellian nonsense is that?

Usually, those who wish to rationalize autocratic policy point to a less coincidental benificence to justify the beatings and the tortures. This "no in-flight terrorism since we de-shampooed the masses" thing is just gibberish.

Earl Pitts said... @JustSayin': Admit it. 9/11 is being used as a scapegoat for people that had nothing to do with it actually happening.

Airline crew cooperation - policy at the time - was why 9/11 happened. Now that we have hardened cockpit doors, a crew that won't comply, and pax willing to risk their lives to take down an attacker, another 9/11 isn't going to happen.

Tell us why security was blamed for 9/11 happening. No one has ever explained what they did wrong, considering they were complying with the rules they were given at that time. No one has shown that TSA would have done any better if they were operating under the same set of rules. Additionally, with the repeated failures we constantly see, there's no guarantee that what TSA is doing today would prevent another 9/11.

And if these people were so bad, why were so many of them hired into TSA after 9/11?

9/11 didn't happen because of lax security. We'll have another incident due to TSA's ineptitude though.

Earl

External noise and gobblygook can't override the plain fact: since 9/11 and the formation of the TSA, there have been a grand total of 0 terrorist attacks in the US.

earl pitts said:"Airline crew cooperation - policy at the time - was why 9/11 happened. Now that we have hardened cockpit doors, a crew that won't comply, and pax willing to risk their lives to take down an attacker, another 9/11 isn't going to happen.

Tell us why security was blamed for 9/11 happening. No one has ever explained what they did wrong, considering they were complying with the rules they were given at that time. No one has shown that TSA would have done any better if they were operating under the same set of rules. Additionally, with the repeated failures we constantly see, there's no guarantee that what TSA is doing today would prevent another 9/11.

And if these people were so bad, why were so many of them hired into TSA after 9/11?

9/11 didn't happen because of lax security. We'll have another incident due to TSA's ineptitude though.

Earl"

the point is the old agencies did nothing but their jobs, just iike the tsa people today that are just doing their jobs. the problem with the old agencies is that they never updated their equipment unless or policies. they kept on doing the same thing over and over for years allowing holes to be found in the system. at least today with tsa they take into account recent events and info to change things and constantly evolve. there is no way that going back to private business that these companies will not but their bottom line before you safety. they will run like any other business seek out the best way to do things for the most profit possible. id rather see the govt go deeper in debt to try and stay current than to have to rely on marshall law on planes to keep my family safe.

Now I have a couple of concerns about this story. One, it was FLL were the FSD refused to investigate a reported attempted theft at a checkpoint, so is this FSD setting up an atmosphere were TSA screeners feel safe stealing from travelers?

and two, if TSA screeners can easily steal from luggage isn't it just as easy to introduce a weapon and have that item loaded on an airplane?

TSA employees have caused more harm to travelers since 9/11 than terrorist.

We travelers have every reason to be concerned with our TSA protectors since they are assaulting us, stripping us, stealing from us, humiliating us, and feeling up our children.

With TSA on the job I have to worry no only about foreign terrorist but TSA terrorist too.

I think its wonderful how TSA is holding these people accountable for their actions. YES they should start from the TOP and work their way down. I agree, that like the other federal agencies, TSA should have accurate polygraph tests in their hiring process. But now if only there was a way to test people on common sense... Thats the BIGGEST problem our country seems to have right now.

@Anon: "the point is the old agencies did nothing but their jobs, just iike the tsa people today that are just doing their jobs. the problem with the old agencies is that they never updated their equipment unless or policies. they kept on doing the same thing over and over for years allowing holes to be found in the system. at least today with tsa they take into account recent events and info to change things and constantly evolve."

Evolving isn't a bad thing. However, we're not really evolving. We're reacting. And TSA isn't evaluating if it's evolution is effective. Someone comes out with a new gizmo, it's not tested, and not only is it not keeping us safe (or if it is, there are operational issues that weren't considered - see the puffers), but we're wasting a ton of money. The GAO has repeatedly slammed TSA for this.

"there is no way that going back to private business that these companies will not but their bottom line before you safety. they will run like any other business seek out the best way to do things for the most profit possible. id rather see the govt go deeper in debt to try and stay current than to have to rely on marshall law on planes to keep my family safe."

You are aware that several airports in that are under private operation, right? SFO, MCI, and ROC come to mind, and I know there are several others. The problem with your assertion is that these private stations consistently do better than their TSA counterparts do. They have to meet the same standards as TSA. They just do a better job.

Additionally, there is one thing with private contractors that occurs that doesn't occur with TSA: accountability. If Covenant Aviation Services or their counterparts don't perform, they lose the contract and they're out of business. It is in their interest to perform to the standards of the contract to ensure that they continue.

If TSA fails, nothing happens. There is no accountability.

If airlines took it over, they have a tremendous interest in keeping their planes safe. Airliners are multimillion dollar investments and losing even one can have a bad effect on profits. On top of that, losing one to terrorism or maintenance and having people die is bad for business. Companies have gone out of business for that. Don't shield them from liability, and they'll do a good job. They'll probably do a better job than TSA ever could.

Have the government oversee them, provide regulation and testing, but let them take care of themselves. Remember, air security wasn't bad. The government didn't adapt and update policies and procedures. It wasn't the airlines' or the security companies' faults. That rests on the government. And you think that doing it themselves is going to give us better results? Well, look at TSA.

We went for years under the old system without terrorist incidents. It worked pretty well considering.

@JustSayin': Kelly, I'm here to challenge TSA on its assertions and ask them to back it up. Still don't see it, and you're still not providing any solid evidence they're effective, other than the magic rock argument. When you have something real to say, I'll be happy to talk.

@JustSayin': Kelly, I'm here to challenge TSA on its assertions and ask them to back it up. Still don't see it, and you're still not providing any solid evidence they're effective, other than the magic rock argument. When you have something real to say, I'll be happy to talk.

Earl

Earl!!!

I see you are seeking a long-term debating partner on here. Unfortunately, it's hard to debate the plain facts that I already presented, sorry.

earl pitts said:"You are aware that several airports in that are under private operation, right? SFO, MCI, and ROC come to mind, and I know there are several others. The problem with your assertion is that these private stations consistently do better than their TSA counterparts do. They have to meet the same standards as TSA. They just do a better job."

yes i am aware of this. these are the people that patted down the 6 yr old boy that was all over the news. even though they are private indiviual companies have their equipment supplied to them by the tsa. they are not paying for it. so the tsa is funding them with the new equipment. i state that pre 9/11 when there was no tsa the screening companies used the same of tired items that were used decades before without thinking of replacement or upgrade due to their finanical bottom line. the private companies at these test airports are not worried about this because they are only covering the employees. so yes, there are private companies but they are not useful as an example becaus they have the govt helping them.

earl pitts said:"If airlines took it over, they have a tremendous interest in keeping their planes safe. Airliners are multimillion dollar investments and losing even one can have a bad effect on profits. On top of that, losing one to terrorism or maintenance and having people die is bad for business. Companies have gone out of business for that. Don't shield them from liability, and they'll do a good job. They'll probably do a better job than TSA ever could."

the airlines would hire a sub contrator to do the screening, they would not be directly responsible. also the airlines not only are getting off the hook for the cost of the security but they are also getting federal subsides from the govt. so if they were to lose a plane then they would just beg for more citzen money to protect their profits. the airlines are in a no lose situation. however, if the govt was to give the security back to the airlines and a plane was to go down due to a terrorist then the american public would 'crucify' the govt for not staying put. so the tsa is in a no win situation. they funny thing is the american public can cry for no more tsa and if they win they have no accountablity for what happens if they leave, the govt will be held accountable. if they leave to what the people want and something happens then the public will say why did you listen to us, you are at fault for doing what we say.

JustSayin said..." for someone who hates the TSA, you sure spend a lot of time on here...supporting the site!"

I have seen this argument used a lot lately by many of the Pro-TSA commenters. Is this the best you can do? Have you run out of interesting ways to repeat the TSA talking points? Have you started to realize that many of us Anti-TSA commenters might be pointing out truths? Did you finally read a copy of the Constitution and make it to the Fourth Amendment?

What the TSA is doing is wrong. It is ineffective. It is expensive. And worst of all, it is trying to solve the 1% problem. You have a greater chance of dying in a car accident on your way to the airport than you do of being in a plane crash. And if your plane does go down, you have a 99% greater chance it will be due to mechanical failure than a terrorist plot.

Besides, If there are so many terrorists trying to take down airplanes how come there aren't airplanes raining out of the sky in other countries? Is it because the terrorists only want to take down american planes? Do the terrorists not get their reward points if they take down a Russian plane? Do they not get their green-stamps if they take down a Spanish plane?

Write your elected officials and tell them to remove the TSA. Tell them to remove the DHS. Tell them to give the monies to 'real' law enforcement agencies that can do real police work.

A phonenix woman groped a TSA agent the same way she was groped which led to her arrest and being charged with felony sexual assault.... So that is what you guys should be charged with.. Its good enough for the passengers but not good enough for the TSA agents???

A Port Authority police source said surveillance video shows a female TSA screener spending six minutes with Chris' bag. At one point, the worker can be seen tossing away a piece of paper, the source said.

The worker hasn't been arrested or suspended.

Just hours later, another TSA screener at JFK was caught on surveillance video swiping a senior citizen's cellphone. The worker, Roy Richburg, 25, of Queens, was arrested and fired.

Speaking of Accountability, that seems to be an item in short supply for the Blog Team.

Was it not the TSA Blog Team that declared WBI images safe for young children to view and safe for the cover of Readers Digest?

Please explain this statement from a high level official of TSA. then tell me how the TSA Blog Team can engage in such lies and retain their job in the United States government. An OIG Investigation needs to be conducted on the INTEGRITY of TSA employees.................."The Transportation Security Administration on Friday unveiled new security checkpoint machines at Denver International Airport that will obscure details of a passenger's body and instead show what looks like a chalk outline.

"They were graphic, no doubt about it," TSA area director Pat Ahlstrom said of the old scans"

I posted to this thread on 8/10/2011 and the comment was not allowed by the TSA Blog team although it complied with every tenet of TSA's illegal posting policy. Apparently because the comment proves that one member of the TSA Blog team has an issue with personal integrity and accountability. So without any personal comments I will post two passages and let readers decide who to trust. Keep in mind the latest Blog thread where this same person concludes that TSA employees did not steal insulin from a passenger.

Oh, screen shot taken for Congressional investigation of First Amendment Rights violations.

The Transportation Security Administration on Friday unveiled new security checkpoint machines at Denver International Airport that will obscure details of a passenger's body and instead show what looks like a chalk outline.

"They were graphic, no doubt about it," TSA area director Pat Ahlstrom said of the old scans. "Now, they don't have to be concerned that a private image will be viewed by a TSA officer."

=======================

4.15.2008

The First Significant Deployment of Aviation Security Technology Since the 1970s

Millimeter wave will allow our TSOs to view a noninvasive image of a passenger revealing any items that were not divested. These images are friendly enough to post in a preschool. Heck, it could even make the cover of Reader’s Digest and not offend anybody.

How is it that searching, groping, or exposing random travelers to untested scanners, whose safety data has been kept secret, will make us safer? What about the 4 out of 5 passengers who aren't searched, scanned, or sexually assaulted? Groping 4 year olds and the elderly in wheelchairs is supposed to make Americans grateful to the TSA? It's been over 10 years since the TSA was instituted, and NOT ONE terrorist attack has been thwarted by the TSA. In fact, the TSA has been woefully negligent in thwarting real terrorist attacks. It was just dumb bad luck that prevented the underwear bomber from succeeding.

Admit it.

The TSA is big government's complete failure to intelligently address the threat of terrorism via air travel and a huge over reach of government powers that violate our constitutional right to be safe and secure in our bodies and property.

Our government will not ask a few more questions, PROFILE, or utilize integrated INTELLIGENCE data to keep us safe in our travel, because it might "offend" some ethnic group. So instead they grope, assault, radiate and OFFEND the rest of us. For those of you who get apoplectic when anyone even suggests closer screening for Mideastern passengers, how is the current TSA procedural abomination fair to the MAJORITY of American travelers who aren't of Mideastern descent?What will happen when someone decides to use a bodily orifice to transport explosives aboard an airline? Will we all tolerate reactive rectal or vaginal probes from the TSA when that happens? And it WILL happen. It's not a question of if, but a question of WHEN. What then? Will we continue to lay down like sheep while our government exerts it's powers to assimilate all of us into the police state? Is freedom a dispensable commodity, worth losing for safety measures that don't keep us safer but make us FEEL safer? The TSA should be abolished. Let the airlines institute safety precautions that are within the guidelines of the law, and subject to strict adherence to our constitution. When the livelihood of the airlines depend on their ability and motivation to keep us safe, we can have effective, real security in our air travel.

The additional screening is kind of a joke. I saw on the news they detained a 5 year old. If taking your shoes off at the airport makes the rest of you feel safe then by all means. In reality, I appreciate objective sites like this one bringing the real truth of it to the forefront. Kudos. Dr. J.